Pole or climbing spur.



No. 628,070. Patented July 4, I899.

m. BUTLER.

POLE 0R CLIMBING SPUR.

(Application filed Dec..14, 1898.)

2 Sheets-Sheet {No Mode-l.)

Iii-SQ 6 No. 628,070., Patented July 4, I899.

- m. BUTLER.

POLE 0R CLIMBING SPUR.

[Application filed Dec. 14, 1898.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

A (No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MICHAEL BUTLER, OF DALLAS, TEXAS.

POLE OR CLIMBING SPUR.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent N0. 628,070, dated July 4=, 1899.

Application filed December 14, 1898- Serial No. 699,196. (No model-l To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, MIOHAEL BUTLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dallas, in the county of Dallas and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pole or OlimbingSpurs; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,

' clear, and exact description of the invention,

such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has reference to improvements in pole or climbing spurs for telephone and telegraphic purposes; and it consists of certain novel features of construction, which will be hereinafter fully elucidated in the specification in conjunction with the drawings and pointed out in the claims.

The object of the present invention is to so construct a pole-spur that many of the objections heretofore met may be obviated, and to overcome such objections I employ a pivotal spur in conjunction with spring-actuating devices and also looking devices, whereby the pivotal spur may be positively retained at certain positions to suit the user of the same.

My invention further consists in providing a metallic strap at right angles to the bar which retains the spur and have such strap of iron in contact with the head of the spur as a means of taking the strain off the rivet or shank of said spur. The metallic strap is designed to extend some distance each side of the spur-bar and also to be bent inward toward the foot of the wearer and be provided with a slot at each end for the reception of independent leather straps for assisting in securing the spur to the foot and limb of the user.

The spurs in present use are a permanent fixture with their supporting-bar, and they are liable to become broken and quickly worn off by contact with the ground, but more especially when erecting telephone-lines in a rough or uneven part of the country; but the most serious objection to the permanent spur is its projecting point injuring the feet and limbs of the user when walking from pole to pole or assisting in putting up poles, as it is too'inconvenient to remove the entire ap paratus, as too much valuable-time would be lost and would not be tolerated by their company. Another serious objection to the ordinary spurs is the attachment of the leather 7 strap around the outside of the bar in close proximity to the spur for securing the device to the feet. This leather strap is riveted to thebar and is exposed to all manner of abrading causes, such as the spur-points cutting the leather when walking and contacting a pole and from many other causes. By this means the leather straps become gradually worn away, and consequently the leather strap breaks, thus endangering the life of the user, as Very little attention is paid to this part of the outfit. tVith my improved metallic strap no danger ensues, as the ears or portions of the metallic strap carrying the leather straps are inclined inward toward the foot of the wearer, and afurther protection to the leather straps consists in turning the spur-points on their pivotal connection upward in close proximity to the spur-bar. By this means there is no danger to life or limbs of the user of my improved climbing or pole spurs.

In reference to the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective View of my improved climbing-spur. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly broken away and partly in section, exhibiting the spur in its normal position and alsoiin its abnormal position in dotted lines. Fig. 3 is a plan view of my improved device with the straps removed and also partly broken away. Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the device, partly broken away or in detail with the spur locked in position. Fig. 5 is also a front elevation of the device in detail with the spur unlocked and its point turned at right angles to its normal position'and also shown in a vertical position in dotted lines. Fig. 6 is a plan in detail exhibiting the metallic strap inclined more inward and its ears longer than others in the drawings. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of my devicefwith the upper part removed and the spur-points parallel to the spur-bar in full and also in dotted lines. Fig. 8 is a section through the head of the spur, showing its carrying mechanism. Figs. 9 are details of the spurs. Figs. 10 are respectively side elevations and sections of the slide for carrying the spur-point. Fig. 11 is a front elevation in detail with the ears for supporting the independent leather straps integral with the spur-carrying bar. Fig. 12 is-a side elevation of Fig. 11.

The device Consists of a bar A,which is bent at right angles at A for receiving the foot of the wearer. There is also a short end A projecting from the part A for more securely binding the foot and also for securin ga leather strap in conjunction with a metallic strap or plate B, which is provided with ears I) and which are bent inward toward the foot, so as to preventthe leather straps from being worn by the sharp spurs or any other means.

The metallic plate or strap B is preferably secured to the barA by rivets, which is clearly shown 'in Figs. 1, 4, and 5, or they may be constructed as indicated at Figs. 11 and 12, the ears being integral with the bar A, and the cars can also be of any desired length, as indicated at Fig. 6. In the bar A is a mortise a, which is dovetailed on its rea-r'or inward side for the reception of a block 0, and which is also dovetailed at 0, so as to fit into said recess or mortise a. (See Fig. 8, also Fig. 10.) A hole is drilled through block 0 and countersunk on its free side for the reception of the shank d of the spur D, said shank being riveted, or a screw can pass through the hole in block 0, and thus secure the spur D, if desired. The mortise a is somewhat longer than the block 0, so as to allow said block to have some downward movement when operating spurD. Secured to block C at its bottom is a pin 0, which retains a spiral spring E. Said pin plays in an open or hole a drilled in the bottom of the mortise a in bar A.

The metallic strap or plate B has a channel 12 cut through one corner of its side adjacent to the bar A, and also bar A has a channel a of considerable length, cut out of one corner, so as to act in conjunction with the channel b in retaining a bolt F in a working position, whereby it maysecure the square head of spurD by contacting one side of said head, as indicated in the various figures. Bolt F is provided with a handle ffor operating the bolt when necessary to change the position of the spur D, as indicated in Fig. 5, the bolt being elevated and the spur D turned horizontal with its base. Said spur can be turned in a vertical position, as indicated in dotted lines in the same figure. hen the spur is in the position shown in Fig. 5, the bolt F drops down by gravity against the side of the square head of the spur D, thus securing it in this position asfirmly as when in its normal position.

The spur could be operated without the bolt F, as the side of the square head is forced upward against the under side of the metallic strap B in conjunction with the weight of the pole-climber, and this would tend to prevent the spur from turning to one side unless a glancing push of the foot in a careless manner might turn the spur on its pivotal connection. Therefore it is preferable to use the locking device by a bolt or any other means for removably securing the spur D.

Vhen operating my improved spur, or,

more properly stating, when not desiring to operate it, it is turned to one side. The operator lays hold of the spur after withdrawing the bolt, and, pushing against the tension 1 of spring E, the spur snaps against the under side of the metallic strap 15 as soon as freed from the hand, and another turn puts it in a vertical position, as indicated in the various figures of the drawings.

lVhen turning the spur around on its pivotal center, the diagonal of the square head forces down the spiral spring E. As the corner of the diagonal plays against the under side of the metallic strap l3, consequently the tension of said spring holds said spur tightly against the strap B, previously referred to. The spur can be pushed in a vertical position by the foot, or, contacting the spur with a board, a quick forward or backward movement will put the spur in a horizontal position.

I do not limit myself to the exact construction of the various parts of my device, as other devices may be employed which would embody the spirit of my invention.

Having described myinvention, I desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States- 1. Aclimbing device, comprisingaspur pivotally secured to a movable block whereby it can be moved on its pivotal connection from its normal or operative position to a horizontal or vertical position for the purpose as shown and described.

2. A climbing device comprising a supporting-bar, a plate secured at right angles thereto, and having straps thereon, and a movable block in said supporting-bar, having pivotally secured therein a spur as specified.

In a climbing device adapted to be strapped to the foot and leg of a person comprising a supporting-bar having a mortise therein for the reception of a block carrying a pivotal spur, and a locking device for seouring said block, as specified.

4:. In a climbing device adapted to be strapped, to the foot and leg of a person, comprising a supporting-bar, a plate secured at right angles to said supporting-bar, and having straps secured to the inwardly-turned ends thereof, and a block in said supportingbar carrying a pivotally-secu red spur as specified.

5. A climbing device comprising a supporting bar or member, and a plate provided with ears at right angles to said supporting-bar, for securing independent leather straps thereto, and a block operating in a mortise in said supporting-bar in conjunction with a spring for the purpose as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MICHAEL KUTLER.

lVitnesses:

W. REES EDELEN, REEVE LEwIs. 

